A commentary or exposition upon the four Evangelists, and the Acts of the Apostles: wherein the text is explained, some controversies are discussed, divers common places are handled, and many remarkable matters hinted, that had by former interpreters been pretermitted. Besides, divers other texts of Scripture which occasionally occur are fully opened, and the whole so intermixed with pertinent histories, as will yeeld both pleasure and profit to the judicious reader. / By John Trapp M. A. Pastour of Weston upon Avon in Gloucestershire.

Verse 27. By whom doe your children, &c.]

That is your Coun∣treyman.* 1.1 Not the Disciples, (as Augustin and other Ancients* 1.2 would have it) but the Jewish exorcists, of whom see, Mark 9. 38. Act. 199. As if our Saviour should have said: Unlesse that be a blemish in me, that you hold to be a beauty in others, why should you condemn me for a conjurer? Why doth your malice thus wilfully crosse your consciences? Certain it is, saith* 1.3 Erasmus, that the self-same things are condemned as hereticall in Luthers books, that in Augustine and Bernards works are read and regarded as pious and orthodox sentences. So these passages* 1.4 were gathered as heresies out of Tindals works: He is not a sin∣ner in the sight of God that would be no sinner. He that would be delivered, hath his heart loose already. It is impossible that the word of the crosse should be without affliction and persecu∣tion. The Gospel is written for all persons and estates, Prince, Duke, Pope, Emperour. We cannot be without motions of* 1.5 evil desires, but we must mortifie them in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them. God* 1.6 made us his children and heirs, while we were his enemies, and before we knew him. Men should see that their children come to Church to hear the Sermon, &c. Were not these perilous here∣sies?

Saith not the Scripture the same in sundry places? Is not* 1.7 this to have the glorious faith of our Lord Jesus Christ in respect of persons, Jam. 2. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. So the greatest errours that Henry Voes and John Esch Martyrs were 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of, were, that men ought to trust only in God: for so much as men are liers, and deceitfull in* 1.8 all their words and deeds; and therefore there ought no trust or* 1.9 affiance to be put in them.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Aug de Civ.
• * 1.2

  Dei. lib. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. cap. 5.
• * 1.3

  Compertum est damnata ut hae retica in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is Lutheri, &c.
• * 1.4

  Eras. Epist ad Cardinal. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.5

  Act. and Mon.
• * 1.6

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 137.
• * 1.7

  Novum Crimen C. Caesar, & ante hoc tempus inauditum, Cic. pro Ligar.
• * 1.8

  Act. and Mon.
• * 1.9

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 799.